London’s gardens and outdoor spaces will be under surveillance this week for the UK’s biggest summer wildlife survey.

Thousands of people will keep their eyes peeled for wild visitors as part of the RSPB’s Make Your Nature Count, which runs from June 5 to 13.

The RSPB wants to know about mammals such as badgers, foxes, moles and hedgehogs, as well as the birds and bees, to help build a picture of wildlife visiting gardens and community spaces at this time of year.

Richard Bashford, RSPB Make Your Nature Count project manager, said: "We’ve been collecting information on garden birds now for several decades and we get some fantastic results.

"But there's an amazing variety of creatures just waiting to be discovered in gardens at this time of year."

Launched last year, more than 62,000 people took part in the new garden wildlife survey.

It was the first time the RSPB had asked people to record wildlife other than birds visiting gardens.

And Mr Bashford said more information was needed.

"Some of the species we’re asking people to look for we know very little about and because of the reach of this survey we can start to get a good feel on where and how these species are using gardens," he said.

"This is by far the biggest survey on garden mammals and the information we're starting to collect is really exciting.

"It will also help inform the advice we give through our Homes for Wildlife project."

It’s hoped the survey will produce a snapshot of how these species are doing and whether they are using urban spaces.

Meanwhile, the wildlife charity is also asking people to describe the area in which they live so it can start to identify urban, rural and regional variations.

He added: "Because of the time of year, the birds you are seeing are probably breeding in or around gardens, so we’re asking people to look out for blackbird, robin and song thrush chicks.

"Because we’ll be repeating this survey every year, the results we get will contribute to our understanding on the impact the wintry conditions had on some of our garden birds."

To take part in the summer survey, simply spend one hour during the week of 5-13 June, counting the birds and the other wildlife that visit your garden, and record the highest number of each species seen at any one time.

For more information about Make Your Nature Count and an online survey form visit, http://www.rspb.org.uk/naturecount

Make Your Nature Count forms can also be obtained by phoning 0300 456 8340. The hotline number will be operational until June 10.